Fountain pen



April 18, 1933. A. o. DAHLBERG FOUNTAIN PEN 2 sheets-'sheet 1 OriginlFiled Sept. 14. 1928 3 I.. i ai.. l.

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`Patented Apr. 18, 1933 I UNITED. STATES vPAT-awr: oFFl'cE ARTHUR 0.DABLBERG, F LAKE WORTH, FLORIDA, ASBIGNOB THE PABKB PEN COMPANY, OFJANESVILLE, WISCONSIN, A, CORPORATION OF WISCONSIN FOUNTAIN PENContinuation of application Serial No. 306,009, filed. September 14,1928. This application filed January Q4, 1933. Serial No. 653,346.

My invention relates generally to fountain pens and more particularly tofilling means therefor.

rlihe principal objects of my invention are to provide: y

First: An improved filling device which may be easily operated with onehand;

Second: A flexible diaphragm to seal one end of the barrel, thereby toeliminate the possibility of ink leakage;

Third: A lling device in which most of the parts may be made oimetal andare kept from contact with the ink;

Fourth: A cap for the end oi the barrel, the cap being rotatably securedto the plunger oi' the filling device;

Fifth A cap which is automatically raised on the plunger as the cap isunscrewed from the barrel;

Sixth: A filling device which may be removed from the barrel as a unit;

Seventh: A lling device, the'parts of which may be easily manufacturedandassembled;

Eighth; A filling ifeviee whieh iekee up only a relatively small portionof the interior of the barrel, thus permitting the utilization of agreater volume of the barrel as an ink reservoir; I .Y

Ninth: A filling device in which the diaphragm is wedged in place, thusinsuring tightness without the use of cement or adhesive;

Tenth: A filling device in which the force of a spring is utilized onthe suction stroke;

and

Eleventh: A filling device which is durable, may be economicallymanufactured, and

-mag be easily and quickly operated.

her objects will appear from the following description, reference beinghad to the accompanying drawings, in which Fig. 1 is a centrallongitudinal section of a fountain pen in which a preferred form'of thefillingV Fig. 2 is a similar view of the filling-device only, showingtheparts in normal operating position; A

devlce of my invention is incorporated, showing the parts in'normalmop-- eratlve position;

'parts'in normal inoperative position;

Fig. 5 is a similar view showing the parte in normal operating position;

Fig. 6 is a central longitudinal section of a second modified form offilling device;

Figs. and 8 are transverse sectional views thereof taken on lines 7--7and 8 8, respectively, of Fig. 6; z f

Fig. 9 is a central longitudinal section of a fountain pen infwhich athird modied form of filling device is incorporated, the parts being innormal inoperative position;

Fig. l0 is a similar view of the filling device shown in Fig. 9 with theparts thereof shown in operated position; and

Fig. 11 is a central vertical sectional view of a fountain pen with afourth modified form of filling device, showing the parts in normalposition.

The pen as shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 3 com-1 prises a barrel 12, the lowerend of which is threaded to receive the usual section 14, into whichafeed bar 16 and pen point 18 are secured in the customary manner.

The feed bei hee e, longitudinal ink feeding in the patent to Taylor No.802,668, dated,

October 24, art.

The upper end of the barrel 12 is closed by a pliable sealing member orflexible diaphragm 26 made of rubber or other. suitable material. Thediaphragm has a frusto-conical portion 28 and a central portion 30 whichis preferably made thicker than the portion 1.905, and are well known inthe 2.8V and hasva shallow annular groove 32 formed therein to receivean inwardly extending annular ange 34 of a tubular plunger 36. u'Iheportion 28 Yof the diaphragm is Joined to the central portion 30 by anannular trough shaped portion 37 which forms an initial bend in thediaphragm to aid in causing the diaphragm to roll freely upon itself aswill more fullyappear hereinafter'.

'lhe outer edge portion of' the diaphragm is pressed or clamped againsta tapering an-' nular shoulder 88 formed in the barrel 12 by thecomplementally tapered ring portion 40 ci a. sleeve 42.

The sleeve 42 is forced into the barrel by an annular nut 44 which isthreaded in the end ol the barrel and engages a shoulder 46 on thesleeve 42. rl`he nut 44 has heris 48 to receive a Spanner wrench. Thenut is preferably screwed into the barrel a sucient distance so as'to heslightly beneath the end oi the barrel. The sleeve 42 has an annularshoulder 50 at the upper end of the tapered portion 40 which is oisubstantially the same diameter as the inside of the barrel and thusprevents the portion 28 of the diaphragm romsliding upwardly on thewedge portion 40 when the diaphragm and, sleeve are being insert/ed intothe barrel.

rlhe wedge portion 40 has a tapered bore 52 to provide clearance for'the diaphragm when it is at the upper end ol its stroke.

'lhe plunger 36 has a plurality or narrow open end slots 54 cnt in itsupper end, the tongue portions between the slots having small outwardlyextending heads or ianges 56 formed thereon. rlhese `langes project intoan annular groove 58 undercut in a cap 60, or, as shown, formed at theend or a bushing 62 which is pressed into the ca The lower end of thecap is internally t readed and adapted te he screwed upon the end ofthel sleeve 42.

A compression coil spring @4 is confined between the end wall of the cap60 and a pin 66 which passes through longitudinal slots 68 formed in theplunger 36 and the ends of which restin suitable' holes drilled in the lsleeve 42. The pin is sufficiently long so that it is conned againstappreciable longitudinal movement by the wall the barrel l2. rlihe slots68 preferably project a short distance below the top surface ol thecentral portion 30 of the diaphragm so that the latter may serve as acushioninr butler against pin 66 to limit upward movement of theplunger.

The operation of the filling device is as follows:

The cap 60 is unscrewed from the end of y the sleeve 42 swiveling on theplunger 86,

whereupon the spring 64 willL force the cap and plunger outwardly untilthe lower ends of slots 68 abut against the pin 66 as shown in Fig. 2.The pen point is hen inserted in an ink well and the plunger rapidlyreciprocated, preferably by the index nger to the top of the f. graspingthe barrel between the thumb other fingers.

` Lacasse i `During the downward stroke against the pressure of thespring the diaphragm will roll upon itself from the position shown inFig. 2 to a position substantially as shown in Fig. l, displacing acertain amount of air which is ejected through the tube 24, duct 22 andlower portion 20 of the ink groove. Upon relieving the linger pressureon the cap 60, the spring will force the plunger upwardly, causing apartial vacuum within the barrel and consequently dow of ink into thebarrel under atmospheric pressure. The ink will. enter the barrelthrough the ink groove 21 or through both the ink groove 2l and air tube24, depending upon the degree of vacuum produced.

Buring the initial portions ofthe second and subsequent depressions ofthe plunger, the pressure in the barrel will be raised above atmosphericand the inlr which stood in the air tube 24 (at approximately the samelevel as the inlr in the barrel) will be ejected. At this time a certainvolume of ink will be forced from the barrel through the ink groove 20,2l but due to the fact that there is Iainuch smaller quantity ol ink inthe tube 24 and duct 22 than in the barrel, the ink will be exhaustedfrom the former before an appreciable volume of ink has escaped from thebarrel through the groove 20, 2l. lUpon continued downward movement ofthe plunger' after the inl( has been exhausted from the tube 24 and duct22, the air in the barreh due to its much greater duidityywill he,forced from the barrel through the groove 20, 2l much more rapidly thaninlr is ejected. 'Ehe ratio ol air and ink ejected from the barrel isdependent upon the speed of the depression stroke of the plunger.

'lhe fact that the cross sectional area of groove 20, 2l is less thanthat of the tube 24 and duct 22 y (and consequently its resistance todow greater is a factor which aids in reducing the proportion of inlrexpelled upon each depression of the plunger.

That the barrel is full of ink may be sensed because correct pressure isrequired to oper ate the plunger and also because air is no Ylongerejected from the pen point.

During the reciprocation of the plunger the diaphragm 26, dueto the wayin which it is secured to the barrel and to the plunger and also due toits exibility and resiliency, will not buckle or fold but will rollsmoothly from one end of its stroke to the other. The

,sleeve 42has a sufficiently-long guiding surltlm level ol the end otthe barrel, manipulanecessary to rotate the diaphragm when inserting itin the barrel and since the ange 50 prevents the diaphragm from slippingup.

wardly on the wedge 40, 4theproper positioningof the diaphragm isassured.

in Figs. 4 to 10, inclusive, 1 have illustrated various modifications ofmy invention, and since the modified structures in construction andoperation are generally similar to the device above described, haveapplied similar reference characters to corresponding parts and willhereinafter point out and particularly describe only the parts andfeatures in which the modifications differ from the structure shown inFigs. 1, 2 and 3.

The modification shown in Figs. 4 and 5 is provided to overcome aJseeming disadvantage of the structure previously described in that thedownward stroke of the plunger of the latter is limited by the contactof the lowermost thread in the cap with the uppermost thread on thesleeve 42, thus decreasing the` plunger displacement and increasing thenumber of strokes necessary to lill the barrel.

ln the modification (Figs. 4 and 5) the plunger 70 has a portion 72 ofincreased diameter which is threaded in a bushing 74 fixed in a cap 76.The upper end of the plunger is closed and has a laterally extendingannui -.r flange 78 which is of greater diameter than the insidediameter of the bushing 74.

As shown in Fig. 4, the bushin 74 is normally threaded over the'end owhich is held inthe barrel by a nut 82. p

When the cap 76 is unscrewed from the sleeve it will simultaneouslyunscrew from the plunger also. Continued rotation of the cap after it isreleased from the threads of the sleeve will raise lthe cap furtherrelative to the plunger. This upward movement of l-the cap is limited bythe abutment of the flange 78 with the upper end of the-,sleeve 74 asshown in Fig. 5. With the parts in this position a longer plunger strokeis possible,

since the plunger may move a distance equal to the full length of theslots 68 in the plunger, and is not limited by thevabutment of thethreads in the bushing' 74 with the threads on the sleeve 8 0.

In the modification shown in Figs. 6, 7 and 8 the bore of sleeve 84tapers. outwardly at its upper end and plunger 86 is complementallysleeve ved to receive a cover cap tapered at 88 so that the plunger maybe wedged into the sleeve and thus held in its lower position after.completion of the filling operation. The angle of the taper on thesleeve and on the plunger is such that it requires a little more thanthe ordinary operating pressure to wedge the plunger tightly in thesleeve. n

' The pen shown in Figs. 9 and 10 comprises the usual barrel 90, thelower end of which is threaded to receive a plug 92. A feed bar 94 isfitted in the'plug and has a channel 96 formed therein beneath the penpoint. An open end tube 98 communicating with .the

channel 96 and having a small ink port 100 is xed in the upper end ofthe feed bar so as to extend coaxially with the barrel 90.

A shoulder 102 near the upper end of the tube 98 provides a seat for adisc 104 which may have a plurality of notches 106 in its periphery orbe otherwise suitably apertured to permit ink to flow freely from theupper to the lower portion of the barrel. c

A conical helical spring 108 is slightly compressed between the disc 104and the end of a piston 110 which may be suitably recessed as at 112 tohold the spring in position. The disc aids in centrally supporting theair tube 98 and in this construction thev recess in the end of thefinger piece, lplunger y or actuating stem 120. l

VThe skirt portion of the sealing member 118 is bent back upon itself asindicated at 122 and is cemented or otherwise suitably secured to theouter surface of a guide sleeve 116 over which a hollow frusto-conil l124' which is threaded in the upper end of the barrel and is providedwith a guiding shoulder 126 which also serves as a limiting stop'through its engagement with the complementary circumferential projection128 on the stem 120. This method of sealing the plunger in the barreleliminates the necessity l of askets or fluid tight sliding fits andmakes lea age from the upper end of the barrel irnpossible, reasonablecare a sealing member -made of the proper quality of rubber will outlivethe useful life ofthe pen.

T he upper end of the sleeve 124 is threadsince it has been yfound thatwith' 130, which protects the stem 120 4against accidentalreciprocation.

The spring 108 ispreferably to prevent itsV corrosion by the ingredients1- 1t godpaedla of the ink. Due to the rubbing action between the coilsof the spring and against the walls of the barrel, the gold plate (whichfor practical reasons must be very thin) will normally wear away inspots in a relatively short time. l preclude this possibilityby fixingsmall globules 132 of solder or other suitable material at shortintervals along the spring Wire. These globules prevent contact of thegold plate of one turn of the spring wire with that of the adj acentturns, the barrel wall, or the air tube 98.

rThe operation of the modified structure of Figs. 9 and l0 is similar tothat of theA filling devices previouslyv described. 'llhe piston l1()with its ring 114. is practically air and ink tight so that the.displacement per unit length of plunger stroke is slightly greater inthis modiicationthan in the structures previously described.

The ink aperture 100 is spaced a short distance above the lower end ofthe barrel so that a small quantity oi" ink will be retained in thebarrel at all times, thus aiding in the preservation of the rubber partsby keeping them moist, and preventing the inlr from drving up andclogging the passageways.

ln Fig. 1l, l have illustrated a. modiiied construction of the sealingmember and the related parts. ln this embodiment Vthe sealing member 5lhas its edge held against a tapering surface 53 ot' the barrel by awedge shaped ring 55, Rubber cement is preferablv used tn holdtheseparts in position 'to make an impervious seal.. A telescoping member orsleeve 57 lits freelyT over theend of the tube and has a shell 59 orother suitable abutment formed integrally therewith. t helical spring 6lis compressed between the shelf 59 and a disc 63 which is secured toorformed integrally with the tube l5, tending normally to hold the sleevein its upper position. A plunger or hnger piece is `guided in a head 67which threads into the end Aoi the barrel, preferably having left handthreads.A rllbe lower end of the linger piece engages the centralportion of the sealing member 5l, pressing it into a shallow socket. 69inthe upper end of the sleeve 57, thus maintaining these parts inalignment.

The piece has a. tritato-conical surface 67 adjacent its lower end toYprovide a backing or support for the sealing member when the fingerpiece is depressed, and also to provide a shoulder which abuts theannular inward projection 69 on the head t? to limit the upward movementof finger piece 65 and consequently that of tbc sleeve 57 and thesealing member 5l. lf desired, the sleeve 57 may be provided with aplurality o? tures to facilitate thev admi tu the end of the tube 15auf? t.; y to flow therefrom more frech., In this embodiment the neonatacourse, tends to lengthen its life. The dif-- ameter of the threadedportion of the head 67 over which the cover cap 7l is screwed is ofsmaller diameter than the threaded portion which screws into the barrel.rlhis construction makes it easy to unscrew the cover capwithoutunscrewing the head from the barrel because -a greater turningmoment is exerted at the threads engaging the cap than at the threadsengaging the barrel.

This application is a continuation of in application, Serial No.306,009' led Septemher 14, 1928, entitled Fountain pens whichapplication in turn is a continuation in part of my application, SerialNo. 149,817 filed November 22, 1926.

While l have shown and described particular embodiments of my invention,it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that numerous variationsand changes may be made without departing from the principles thereof,and l therefore wish my invention to embrace all such changes,4variations, modifications and substitutions as will naturally suggestthemselves to persons skilled in the fountain pen art.

- lVhat is claimed, is: l

l. ln a fountain pen having a barrel, a leed bar secured to one end otsaid barrel and having inlr` and air passageways formed therein, an airtube connected with said air passageway and extending a substantialdistance into said barrel, and filling means located in the other endof' said barrel coinprising a reciprocable plungergiaJ spring tend ingto urge said plunger outwardly, and a pliable sealing member having itsperipheral edge iXed relative to said barrel and having its centralportion engaged hy said plunger and adapted to be reciprocated thereby.

2. ll'n a fountain pen having barrel, a feed bar secured in one end oz'barrel and having ink and air passageways formed therein, an air tubeconnected with said air passageway and extending substr-tial clistanceinto said barrel. and filling for said barrel comprising a reciprocahleplung er, a. spring tending to urge plunger outwardly, means to limitthe reciprocatiu movement of said plunger, and a plif bl ing memberhaving its peripheral relativefto said barrel and having portion engagedby said plunger ancy to be reciprocated thereby.

3. ln a fountain pen having a barrel ing as an ink reservoir, a leed barsecured one end of said barrel and having l air ducts formed rein, meansto ni air passageivaj with s and extending le' fr tid Y l' .ance intosaid i uid reservoir cc'rng, the other end et s :fr r iser carried by sacress the end ci. s

n VB las,

vpressures greater and less than atmospheric in said barrel, said lastnamed means comprising a pliable normally conically-shaped element fixedrelative to said barrel to close one end thereof, means to turn saidconical element inside out, and resilent means to return said element tonormal position.

5q In a fountain pen, the combination of a barrel, a feed bar carried insaid barrel and having a passageway for airand for ink, means forconducting air from a point adjacent the end of the barrel opposite saidfeed bar to'said passageway, and. means for alternatively creating suband super atmospheric pressuresin said barrel, said last named meanscomprising a flexible diaphragm mounted at the other end of said barrel,manipulative means for moving the central part of said diaphragminwardly, and resilient means for moving the central part of saiddiaphragm outwardly thereby to vary the pressure within the barrel.

6. In a fountain pen, the combination of a barrel, a sleeve secured inthe end of said barrel. said sleeve having an end portion spaced fromthe walls of the barrel, a iiexible diaphragm fitting over-the end ofsaid sleeve and secured thereto, the greatest external diameter of saiddiaphragm being less than the least internaldiameter of said barrel,whereby said sleeve and diaphragm may easily be removed from said barrelas a unit, and 'manipulative means guided in said sleeve 'and removabletherewith, said means being adapted to move a portion of said. diaphragmto and fro. 7. A. self filling fountain pen comprislng a barrel having afeed bar secured in one end thereof, .said feed bar and an airpassageway associated having an in therewith,

- said air passageway extending a substantial distance longitudinallysaid filling means comprising a' flexible diaphragm, a manuallyreciprocable member connected to the central portion of said diay8. In afountain pen l'filling device, the

of said barrel, and' barrel filling means at the other end thereof,

U 16.: In a fountain pen combination of a sleeve, a pin passingdiametrically through said sleeve, a reciprocable plunger guided in saidsleeve, and a ilexible diaphragm having its peripheral edge securedrelative to said sleeve and its central portion attached to saidplunger.

9. In a fountain pen filling device, the combination of a sleeve havinga threaded end, a reciprocable plunger guided in said sleeve, a flexiblediaphragm having its edge encircling said sleeve and its central portionsecured to said plunger, secured to said plunger and vhaving a threadedbore cooperable withthe threaded end of saidsleeve.

10. In a fountain pen, the combination of filling means, a plunger foroperating said filling means, a threaded portion near the end of saidplunger, externally threaded means for guiding said plunger, and aninternally threaded cap screwed over the threaded portions of saidplunger and said guidin means.

l1. n a' fountain pen, the combination of a barrel, filling means insaid barrel, a plunger for operatin said filling means projecting fromthe en of said barrel, a, cap threadedly joinedl to said plunger andbarrel andY of, a pin, a spring between said pin and plunger, andintegral-means for guiding said plunger, carrying said pin andsupporting the peripheral edge of said diaphragm. 14. In a fountain penfilling of, a threaded cap rotatably secured to said plunger, andintegral means for guiding said plunger, supporting the peripheralportion of said diaphragm, and havin threads cooperable with the threadsin said cap.

115. In a fountain pen, the combination of a barrel, a filling device,la. plunger for operating said filling device and proJecting from theend of said barrelfsaid plunger having a plurality of open end slots andan outwardly projecting flange at its outer end,

device, the,l combinationV of a flexible dlaphragm, a k plunger attachedto the central portion thereand a cap rotatablyy ured to the centralportion thereand a cap adapted to be attached to the en d of saidbarrel, said' cap having an undercut annular groove to receive theflange on said plunger.

having a barrel, fillsaid barrel and havin ing means comprising areciprocable plunger, a spring tending to ur e said plunger outwardly,and a pliable lmperiorate member having its peripheral edge fixedrelative to its central portion adapted to be actuated y said plunger.

17. ln a fountain pen having a barrel, lilling means therefor comprisingan element manually operable in one direction, a spring for moving saidelement in the opposite direction, and a dexible member closing the endof said barrel, said member being adapted to be moved to and i'ro bysaid element.

18. ln a. fountain pen filling device, the combination of a sleeve, areciprocable plunger guided in said sleeve, a Herible diaphragm havingits edge surrounding said sleeve and its central portion engaged by saidplunger, a cap carried by said plunger, and cooperative quick detachableconnecting means on said sleeve and on said cap. l

i 19. ln a fountain pen falling device, the combination of a flexiblediaphragm, a plunger for reciprocating the central portion of saiddiaphragm, a spring for urging said lunger in one direction, andintegral means or guiding said plunger, supporting the edge of saiddiaphragm and one end ci said spring.

20. In a fountain pen lling device, the combination of a barrel, asleeve secured in the upper end of said barrel, a plunger reciprocablein said sleeve, and a flexible dias phragm having portions held by said`sleeve and said lunger, respectively, said sleeve and plunger havinginterengaging vvedging suriaces whereby said plunger may be hned in saidsleeve.

2l. ln a fountain pen, the combination of s barrel having a shoulderadjacent one end thereof, filling means comprising a flexible diaphragmhaving its peripheral edgeseated against said shoulder, a sleeve forpressing said edge of said diaphragm against said shoulder, a plungerfor moving the central portion of said diaphragm to and fro` and a nutrotatable relative to said sleeve and threaded in the end of said barrelto force said sleeve into said barrel.

22. ln a fountain pen, the combination of a barrel having a slopingannular shoulder at one end thereof, a dexible sealing member having itsperipheral edge resting on said shoulder, a sleeve having a surfacecomplemental to the surface of said shoulder and arranged to press theperipheral edge of said diaphragm against said shoulder, and a nutswiveled on said sleeve and threaded in the end of said barrel andadapted to force said sleeve inwardly thereby to clamp said diaphragm insaid barrel.

23. In a fountain pen having a barrel serving as an ink reservoir, meansfor filling said barrel comprising a sleeve secured at the end of saidbarrel, a pliable sealing member con- Lacasse lined Within said barrel,said member being fastened to said sleeve, being of slightly7 lesserdiameter than the internal diameter of the end of said barrel andremovable from said barrel With said sleeve, said sleeve and memberclosing the end of said barrel, and means to move a portion of said'member to and fro to create did'erential pressures in said barrel.

24. lin a fountain pen having a barrel serving as an ink reservoir, afeed bar secured in one end of said barrel and having ink and airpassagevvays formed therein, an air tube communicating with said airpassageway and extending into said barrel, and means for creatingpressures in said barrel alternately greater and less than atmosphericpressure, said means comprising a substantially conical sealing memberclosing the other end of said barrel, means to hold the edge portion cisaid member stationary relative to said barrel, means to move thecentral portion ofsaid member to and iro to cause the intermediateportions of said member to roll freely relative to one another, therebycreating difierential pressures said barrel, and a spring to move saidlast named means in one direction.

25. ln a fountain pen having a barrel, a feed bar secured in one end cisaid .barrel and having ink and air passagevvays formed therein, an airtube communicating with said air passageway and extending into saidbarrel, and means for creating pressures in said barrel alternatelygreater and less than atmospheric pressure, said means comprising asubstantially conical diaphragm secured Within the other end of thebarrel and having its edges fixed relative to said barrel, saiddiaphragm being capable ci rolling freely 'upon itself and turninginside out to vary the effective volume of said barrel when the centralportion of the diaphragm is reciprocated, means for moving the centralportion oi said diaphragm in one direction, and resilient means to movesaid central portion in the opposite direction.

26. lin a fountain pen filling means, the combination of a barrelforming an ink reservoir, a feed bar secured in one end of said barreland having ink and air passageways formed therein, an air-tubecommunicating with said air passageway and extending into said barrel,and means for creating pressures in said barrel alternately greater andless than atmospheric pressure, said means comprising'a lexiblediaphragm having its peripheral edge fixed relative to said barrel, amanually reciprocable plunger engaging the central portion of saiddiaphragm, means to limit the stroke of said plunger sufiiciently at alltimes to maintain a bend lll-shaped in cross section in said diaphragm,and resilient means to move the central porti on ofI said diaphragm inone direction. V-

p 27. ln a fountain pen filling means, the

' combination of a barrel'forming an ink reser- 'air from said barrel,and a compression spring surrounding said tube and compressed uponinward movement of said plunger.

28. In a fountain pen filling device, the combination of a barrelforming an ink reservoir, a tube providing a passageway for thedischargeI of air from said barrel, a plunger reciprocable in saidbarrel and guided partially by said air tube, a flexible diaphragmhaving a portion fixed relative to the walls of said barrel and aportion movable with said plunger, and a spring surrounding said airtube and operative to move said plunger outwardly.

29. In a fountain pen filling device, the combination of a fleXi-blediaphragm, a plungy er for reciprocating the centrai portion of l movedin the opposite direction.

said diaphragm, a spring for urging said plunger in one for guiding saidplunger and supporting one end of said spring, said means Ibeingconnected to said plunger and the central portion of said diaphragm. y

30. In a fountain pen filling device, the combination of a barrelforming an ink reservoir, a dexible diaphragm having its edge fixedrelative to said barrel at one end thereof, manually operable means formoving the central portion of said diaphragm inwardly, aspring formoving the central portion of said diaphragm outwardly, and arigidmeinber interposed between said diaphragm and said spring-andadapted to transmit the force of said spring to said diaphragm.

31. In a fountain pen filling device, a barrel forming an ink reservoir,aA diaphragm closing one end of said reservoir for varying the pressuretherein, from the pen point end of said barrel 'to a point adj aoent theother end of said barrel, a spring within said barrel to move a portionof said diaphragm in one direction, and guide n means fitting aroundsaid air tube, said means engaging said spring Vand adapted to be movedthereby in one direction and manually 32. A fountain pen comprising abarrel, a plunger reciprocable therein, a spring urging said plungeroutwardly, a channeled feed bar fitted in one end of said barrel, a tubeextending inwardly from said bar andhaving its passage-communicatingwiththe channel of said bar, and an apertured member carried by saidtube adjacent its inner extermity, contacting with the walls of-saidbar- Y. Yrel and serving as a .seat

for said spring.

33. In a self-filling fountain pen having a reservoir barrel, areciprocable member for direction, and integral means an air tubeextendingstroke of said plunger.

endof said barrel and having ink and air l passageways formed therein,an air tube extending into said barrel, bar and communicating with saidair passageway; and 'filling means at the other end of said barrel, saidmeans comprising a siidable plunger having a stem, a spring urging saidplunger outwardly, :a conical sealing member closing the end of saidbarrel and normally tting over said stem, and a reeipi rocable fingerpiece protruding from the end of said barrel and having its inner en'dengaging said may be depressed, causing said member to be unfurled fromsaid stem and thereby vary the effective volume of said barrel.

35. In ya fountain pen having al barrel, means for varying the pressurein the barrel comprising a spring returned plunger recipr'ocable in saidbarrel, a plunger stem, a flexible tapered 'sealing member secured tosaid barrel and normally tted, to said stem',

securedto said feed 1 member, whereby said plunger` and a recessedfinger piece adapted to engage the end. of said stem whereby'saidplunger may bedepressed.

36. In a device of the class describedthe combination of a cylinder, anelement reciprocable therein, a coil spring within said cylinder formoving said element, and a plurality of globules of solder secured tosaid pring lto form lateral bearing points there- 37. In a device of theclass described, a liquid receptacle, a plated coil spring therein,

and means to prevent abrasion of the plating from said spring comprisinga plurality of globules of a soft metal spaced along saidv spring. l

38. As an article of manufacture a plated coil spring havingdrops of abearing metal fixed at intervals of its length to prevent.

abrasion of the plating.

39. In a fountain pen, the combination of a barrel having a malethreaded part at the end thereof, filling means inl said`barrel, aplunger for operating said filling means pro-- jecting from the end ofsaid barrel and having a male thread at the proiecting end thereof, anda cap loosely threaded on the threaded end of said plunger and on thethreaded part of said barrel, whereby unscrewing said cap from vsaidpart will result in simultaneously unscrewingthe cap lrelative to saidplunger thereby t'o lengthen the effective 4|0. Afountain pen comprisingay barrel,

a feed bar having ink feeding and air conducting passageways formedtherein and secured lin one end of said barrel, an air tubecommunicating With said air passageway and extending Within said barrelsubstantially the length thereof, and means at the other end of saidbarrel for alternately creating pressures greater and less thanatmospheric pressure within said barrel, said means comprising aflexible cup having its open end iixed relative to said barrel, amanually engageable plunger for deiorming said cup to expel the contentsthereof, and a spring for' moving said plunger in one direction.

lll. A :fountain pen filling device of the character adapted to betinserted in and removed from the fountain pen barrel as a completelyassembled unit comprising Aa diaphragm adapted to be expanded andcollapsed, a plunger for actuating said diaphragm, spring means to movesaid plunger in one direction. means for supporting' said diaphragm,said plunger and said spring means, ,and means adapted to engage thebarrel ci a fountain pen for locking the fillingy device in operativeposition therein.

d2. A filling device for fountain pens of the type adapted to bedetachably secured in the barrel oi a fountain pen comprising a ilexiblediaphragm, a member for supporting the peripheral edge portion of saiddiaphragm, a plunger guided by saidv member and secured to the centralportion of said diaphragm, resilient means for moving said plunger inone direction., and means for detachably securing said member,diaphragm,

plunger and resilient means in the end of a barrel of a fountain pen,said securing means being operative to force said member and partsassociated therewith into the barrel of the fountain pen by atranslational movement relative to the barrel of the fountain pen.

e3. ln a fountain pen .having a barrel, fillin means therefor whichcomprises a flexible member sealing one end portion of the barrel, aring member cooperating with the inner Wall of the barrel to secure saidflexible member in place, a plunger member attached 'to said sealingmember for flexing the same to vary the air pressure in said barrel,resilient means for returning the plunger to its normal position, andanother member threadedly engaged with the barrel at said one end andguiding the movements of said plunger member. f

all. ln a ountain'pen having a-barrel, ll-

' ing means therefor which comprises a exible member sealing one endportion of the barrel, a ring membershaped for'wedge-engaging said'exible member with the inner Wall of the barrel, and another memberthreadedly engaged with the barrel, at said one end and adapted to forcesaid ring mem- Lacasse ber into and hold it in its said wedge-engagingposition. d5. A lling mechanism adapted to be inserted in the barrel ofa fountain pen which comprises a plurality of parts interconnected toorm a self-contained unit with the parts thereof adapted to be heldoperatively connected when in or when removed from said barrel, saidparts including a diaphragm member adapted to seal one end of said bar75 rel, a support therefor, and an actuator. con- .i

nected to said diaphragm member. l 46. ln a fountain' pen, a barrel andfilling mechanism adapted to'be mounted therein which comprises areciprocable plunger member, a guide for said plunger, meanscooperatively connected to said plunger member for varying the airpressure in said barrel, and means located between said plunger memberand said guide and selectively effective under the control of theoperator for holding said plunger member in an inwardly-reciprocatedposition.

47. lin a fountain pen, a barrel and filling mechanism adapted to bemounted therein which comprises a reciprocable plunger member,`a guidefor said plunger, means cooperatively connected to said plunger memberand said guide, :for varying the air pressure in said barrel, and meansbetweensaid plunger membefnand guide adapted in an inwardlyreciprocatedposition of said plunger member to hold said plunger in such inwardlyreciprocated position.

48. A self-contained filling mechanism adapted to be inserted in thebarrel of a fountain pen .which comprises an extensible memberl for'.closing one end of said barrel and for varying the air pressurevin thebarrel,

a support for said member, a plunger connected to said member forextending the latter, and means releasably engageable with the barrelsecuring said member, support Aand plunger in the barrel, said member,supportv and plunger being so interconnected that they may be'vvithdrawn-from the barrel as a unit upon release of said means Without breakingtheir operating relationship.

49. ln a fountain pen, a barrel filling mechanism therefor comprising anextensible .fa cap threadedly part and' shielding ,irel and thestructure 50. In a fountain pen, a barrel, filling 125 mechanismtherefor comprising an extensible member closing one end portion of saidbarrel, means :fixing said member `relative to the" barrel Wall at saidone end, a plunger member for extending said extensible member,resil 13or and having a proient means for returning the plunger member to itsnormal position, means guiding said plunger and having a projectedthreaded part, and means for holding said plunger in 5 position withsaid extensible member extended.

, 51. A filling mechanism in the form of a self-contained unit adaptedto be inserted in and removed from the barrel of a fountain l pen whichcomprisesa flexible member adapted to span and seal' the barrel adjacentone end thereof, a support for said member, an exteriorly accessibleplunger reciprocable for flexing said member to vary the air pressure lin the barrel, and means self-contained withto return the plunger to itsprojected open position and a rotatable connection between said plungerand barrel whereby the plunger may be locked to the barrel when in itsdepressed condition following the filling operation.

In testimony whereof I aiiix my si nature.

ARTHUR O. DAHLB RG..

in said unit for limiting the reciprocating movement of said plunger.

52. In a fountain pen having a barrel, filling means therefor comprisinga reciproeating pump adapted to be manually actuated, means tendingnormally to return the ump to its projected position and means orlocking the pump to the barrel in its retracted position following thefilling operation.

53. In a fountain pen, in combination, a barrel, a reciprocating plungerfor filling the same, means for returning the plunger to its Yprojectedposition following the depressionv thereof and means for securing theplunger relatively to the barrel in its depressed condition followingthe fillingoperation.

54. In a fountain pen, in combination, a Y barrel, a flexible diaphragmlocated therein,

i 6 a reciprocating plunger for moving said diaphragm back and forth forfilling the pen, spring means for urging the plunger in a projectedposition and means for securing the plunger to the barrel in itsdepressed position following the filling operation.

' 55. In a fountain pen,vin combination, a barrel, a flexible diaphragmsituated therein, a plunger adapted to be moved back and forth foractuating said diaphragm whereby 5 to fill the barrel and interlockingmeans associated with the plunger and barrel, respectively, for locking.the plunger to the barrel in its depressed position following the llingoperation.

56. In a fountain pen, in combination, a barrel, filling means for saidbarrel, comprising a diaphragm, a plunger operatively secured to saiddiaphragm for moving the same repeatedly whereby to fill the barrel,means tending normally to return said plunger to its projected positionand meansadapted to lock the plunger relative to the barrel when in itsdepressed condition, said last mentioned means including a. rotatable 0connection.

57. In a fountain pen, in combination, a barrel, a flexiblel diaphragmdisposed therein,

a plunger connected to said diaphragm and adapted to be moved to and frowhereby to 05 fill the pen, resilient means tending normally

